Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Amaya probably never woke up all sleepy and zombie-like and needed people to feed her and dress her.
She probably didn’t forget her medication and end up ill and worrying everybody who cared about her.
Amaya probably didn’t have a whole ton of baggage from her childhood that she couldn’t seem to let go.
“Damn woman is perfect.”
“Did you just swear?” Tobias asked. “And who is the damn woman?”
“I didn’t swear!” she cried.
“Cherry, you said ‘damn.’ Don’t lie.”
“So did you. You said it twice!”
“Was just repeating what you said,” he told her. “That’s a dollar.”
“Drat,” she grumbled.
“Who is the woman you’re talking about? The one that Jenner is out with tonight? Do you not like her?”
Urgh. How did he guess?
“I don’t really know her. But she seemed nice enough. I’m just . . . being silly.”
“Nothing silly if they’re your feelings.”
She didn’t really think that was true.
“You care about him.”
“Of course,” she replied. “He’s like a brother to me. I don’t want to see him taken advantage of.”
“Sampson also has a date coming up with the woman who bought him, right? Guess you’ll be doing a spell on her too.”
“I guess so.”
“Unless you’re upset because you wish you were on the date with Jenner.”
Immy turned to glare at him. “When did you become so chatty?”
“I talk when I have something to say.”
She grumbled under her breath. “I think I liked it better when you were invisible and silent.”
“Can go back to that.” He stepped out of the room and instantly, she started kicking herself.
Her stomach tied itself up in a knot, making it harder to breathe. What was she doing? Why did she say that?
It was so mean.
And Immy was never mean. Not unless someone was nasty to her friends.
Cupcakes!
She took off after Tobias, her cloak swirling around her as she ran. Where was he?
Darn it.
Why did he have to move so fast?
It was unnatural.
Or maybe you should just work on your cardio. Because you’re huffing and puffing something crazy.
She headed toward the back door. Had he gone to the guest house?
Shoot.
It was dark out there. And she really didn’t want to go out there on her own.
But she had to apologize.
She’d hurt him. She had to say sorry. And she couldn’t wait.
Opening the door, she stared out into the darkness. There were plenty of lights around. The yard was actually well lit.
But there were dark patches.
Was there anything out there?
Don’t be silly, Immy. This isn’t really your fear anyway. You don’t like to be in dark, enclosed spaces.
Like the naughty cupboard.
Don’t think about that. Don’t think about that.
She stepped outside, glancing around. Something caught her eye. Was that movement? Was someone there?
Fear clogged her throat as she fought for breath.
Breathe, Immy.
There’s no one there. It’s just your imagination.
But she couldn’t seem to breathe and the world around her grew hazy. She could barely see where she was going. What was she doing? This was crazy.
“Immy! Immy, what are you doing?”
She spun and tried to scream. Who was that? Her eyes were so blurred that all she knew was that there was someone looming over her.
Then. Nothing.
19
Immy opened her eyes, grumbling in displeasure as bright light tried to stab her eyeballs. “Turn the lights off. I wanna go back to sleep.”
“That’s not happening,” a stern voice replied.
She glared up at the person. “You’re mean.”
“Can be.”
“No can about it. Immy wants to sleep.”
“Immy can’t sleep. Or Tobias is gonna have to call the doctor.”
“Tobias can do what he wants.”
“Oh, yeah? So Tobias can spank your ass for going outside in the dark without him?”
Her eyes shot wide open and she sat up straight, the top of her head slamming into his chin.
“Holy shit.”
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” She attempted to scramble off his lap, but he held onto her. “Let me go! I’ll get some ice. Shoot! I’m so sorry!”
“Immy, calm down. Hey, calm down,” he told her, turning her so she straddled his lap.
Okay, this position felt too good. She should really get off his lap. But when she tried to move, he grasped hold of her hips.
“Stay.”
She gulped at the dominance in that one word. Tobias wasn’t a guy who shoved his dominance down your throat. But when he said something, he meant it.
One hand reached for her chin, holding her face in place. “Listen.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
“My chin is fine. What is not fine is you breaking the rules and running outside, then getting so worked up that you faint.”
Oh. Right.
Yeah. That.
“Want to explain that to me.” It was a demand, not a question.
And now that she was paying more attention, she could see that he really didn’t look that happy. In fact, he kind of looked like he’d rather be on his own.
Soooo . . . Immy should probably leave him alone.
“Not really,” she whispered.
He raised an eyebrow. “Not really?”
“Yeah. Not really.”